Dell Inspiron 8100

Hello, I have a Dell Inspiron 8100. It hasn't been used in a while. When I go to charge the battery, the battery indicator light flashes rapid amber. When I go to turn the machine on, the light go green and then shut off. Is this a problem with the battery, the power supply, or the motherboard? Any information would be most helpful.

Thank you.

 

Doesn't sound like the power brick to me, take the battery out of the laptop entirely, then attempt to power on while still plugged in.
The 8100's (and a lot of that gen) had a long line of bad motherboards though so things don't look too good.

 

It could be a problem with the power connector for the board or the board itself.

 

Either way, sounds like it needs to go, right? Not worth keeping?

 

Not necessarily. It depends mostly on what you use it for, but either way, let's first determine your problem. Sometimes these things are a simple fix. If you read my profile, you'll see I'm using an even less powerful laptop

 

I'd say it isn't worth replacing the motherboard. Even a refurb from Dell would cost quite a bit and there is a labor cost if you don't want to do it yourself.

 

Ok, what else do you need to know? When I take out both batteries and try to power it on, it doesn't come on.

 

When you press the button on the battery, no lights come on, right?
And do you get any lights at all when plugged in to the outlet, but with both batteries out?

At first I was thinking undercharged battery but now thinking about the light sequence you're getting, I might have to agree with atbnet about a broken power jack.

Check the back of the laptop where the AC plugs in - are all 3 pins protruding the same distance? Does one look pushed in? Is one bent? Does that whole set of pins + hole seem to be loose from the rest of the laptop?

 

I get lights when one battery is in, when both batteries are in, and when both batteries are out. I push the power button and all light (except the battery light) flash green for about 3 seconds, then turn off.

I checked the pin connectors and nothing is bent. Both power adapters plug in perfectly.

 

I had this problem with a Inspiron 5160 and it ran on the battery until it died and never ran again. I tried replacing the mobo but I got two duds from Dell and just recycled it.

 

And again I changed my mind. That's the bad motherboard light sequence. Scrap it.
A board will cost more than the laptop is worth.

 

Thank you so very much.